Would You Be Upset?

[Patches]

So my ds comes home from school (5 yo) and says, "Mom! Come look!" He was VERY excited. So I walked over to the front steps and there was a caterpilllar on the steps right outside the door. I asked him lots of questions about it and his eyes lit up while he was telling me all about it turning into a butterfly and how that happens. By this time, I had called the dcks to see. I warned them several times NOT to step on it and be very careful walking around it. So after a few minutes I said, "OK, let's go back inside. Make sure you DON'T step on the caterpil..." Right then my 2 1/2 yo dcb goes, "ARRRG!" And stomps on the caterpillar. DS burst into tears and said,"Now he can't turn into a butterfly!!" It broke his little heart and that, of course, broke my heart. I didn't get onto dcb really. I just said, "Oh no, DCB, we don't hurt little critters here. Please don't do that again" But inside I was very upset.
I know little boys like to squish bugs and I know I am a big cry baby, but would this have upset you?

[dEHmom]

Aw that's so sad.

I would've been upset, but there isn't a whole lot you could do in a situation like that.

[Play Care]

Honestly I would never have called my young group over to look in the first place, because they would have done the same thing
But this is a wonderful opportunity to teach children to be GENTLE to bugs/animals.
I'm sorry for your son

[Cradle2crayons]

Gosh yes I'd have cried inside too!! It's unfortunate but also a great opportunity to talk to your son about loss and discuss sadness and feelings. Feelings are great because remember a child's lack of ability to talk feelings is what can lead to tantrums and a whole lotta problems....

Oh a brighter note, we have had an onslaught of caterpillars here in the last few weeks... And what do my kids and dck do?? We feed them to the baby chickens who just moved out into the pen .... Oh the circle of life... Wait until our kids realize we're eating one of their pets!!! Oh life!!

But seriously, you did the right thing, kids that age are learning cause and effect... He did what most his age would do...

[JoseyJo]

We had a 3 yo dcb a couple of years ago who would spend all of outside time hunting for bugs just to smash them all. I spoke to his mom and found out that his mom encouraged it and felt that all bugs are bad and told him to kill any he saw. We dont kill bugs here unless they are biting us, so I explained (lots of times over the course of many weeks) that at our school we don't hurt bugs unless they are hurting us (and that rules at school and rules at home can be different and that's okay!). We adopted crickets and roly polys as pets over that summer and by the end of summer he would protect any bug he saw and make sure it could go on it's way safely without a little one stepping on it

[daycarediva]

YES! I would have mentioned it to his parents at pickup. In my house we don't hurt or kill ANYTHING. Even bees are trapped and gently put back outside and through their time here, ALL of my kids learn that EVERY life has value.

[bunnyslippers]

I absolutely would have been upset. That is so sad!

[SilverSabre25]

I would have been upset and sad, though also understanding that it's the age and he needs taught and guided. a 2.5 yo doesn't bother me NEARLY as much as an older child doing this would have.

Though I probably would have tried to foresee the issue and have bodily control over the little guy--either the caterpillar or the child. I have a rough boy of my own though and am used to anticipating problems.

[Crystal]

Diva......I love it!!! Thanks for that

Yes, Patches, I would have been upset. However, I think you handled it appropriately and would have done the same, except I probably would have talked with him a bit more about the caterpillar AND about not listening to you.

[Cradle2crayons]

Lol I have to disagree on the bees and wasps in the house... They must die... Only because I am rarely on the mood to give an epi shot to my son.... The poor healthy as an axe only seen ONE doctor ( other than nurses for shots and well baby) in his life little boy... He's allergic to anything that stings... So those die but I'm the only one allowed to kill them... And only when they are inside the house ...
But I agree there may be something to it if its something than a one time thing...

[jenn]

I would have been upset. Kids need to be taught repsect for animals and insects. However, if a bee/wasp/spider/anything that bites is inside my house, I send it as quickly as possible to buggie heaven.

[Cradle2crayons]

I would have been upset. Kids need to be taught repsect for animals and insects. However, if a bee/wasp/spider/anything that bites is inside my house, I send it as quickly as possible to buggie heaven.

Amen to the heaven thing

[AmyKidsCo]

I would've been sad too. Poor caterpillar.

[Patches]

Whoops!

I hit the wrong key in the OP. The dcb is 3 1/2 not 2 1/2.
Anyway, thanks for the reassurance that I'm not just a big baby. My DS got over it after a little while(and lots of hugslovethis) but man, I hated seeing him upset like that.

Oh, Crystal,
I know I didn't mention it in the OP, but once we got inside I did elaborate a little on the caterpillar and talked to him about listening ears.

Thank you, ladies! Love this forum!

[Patches]

YES! I would have mentioned it to his parents at pickup. In my house we don't hurt or kill ANYTHING. Even bees are trapped and gently put back outside and through their time here, ALL of my kids learn that EVERY life has value.

lovethis Great picture!! Thanks for that!